Stepping Stones buys former Chase-Pitkin site

Stepping Stones Learning Center has purchased the former Chase-Pitkin Home & Garden Centers building on Hudson Avenue in the Irondequoit Plaza from Wegmans Food Markets Inc.

The 55,000-square-foot building will be Stepping Stone’s new home. The organization has been located in the former St. Thomas the Apostle school building on Colebrook Drive in Irondequoit. The purchase price was not disclosed.

The sale was made possible by the completion of phase one of Stepping Stones’ “Campaign for Kids.” Construction is expected to begin this fall with an opening slated for the start of the 2014-2015 school year, which coincides with the organization’s 20th anniversary.

Founded in 1994, Stepping Stones serves more than 500 children and youth. It provides services in special education, speech, occupational, physical and music therapies, as well as universal pre-kindergarten, autism, psychological, social work, respite, behavioral and Medicaid service coordination.

Citing competition from national firms, Wegmans in October 2005 announced its plans to shut down all of its Chase-Pitkin stores.